TDU Chapter 156: Strolling Down the Road of Life
Chapter 156 Strolling Down the Road of Life
{Alcohol} truly worked wonders.
The atmosphere of the {welcome party}, initially steeped in an awkward silence, gradually warmed as the beer took effect. Conversations sparked, laughter echoed, and the clinking of bottles replaced the earlier stillness. People began to toast one another, exchanging introductions in earnest. After all, in the days ahead, these strangers would become comrades-in-arms, bound by the shared fate of life and death.
"Qiao Jiajin," Qi Xia called out, casually nibbling on a handful of peanuts. "What’s your reason for wanting to escape?"
"I don't know," Qiao Jiajin said slowly, his gaze fixed on the lively crowd in the distance. "To repay a debt of gratitude? Or perhaps... revenge? Honestly, I’m not too sure." He took a long sip of beer, his expression unusually calm.
The Qiao Jiajin who was typically all smiles seemed like an entirely different person in that moment.
"And you, Han Yimo?" Qi Xia asked, turning his attention to him.
"I want to finish what's mine," Han Yimo paused before continuing. "I want to finish my story. There’s just one chapter left—just one. Even if I have to die, I want to die after I’ve completed it."
"That's far too extreme," Qi Xia said, shaking his head with disapproval. "Can it really be more important than your life?"
"Of course not," Han Yimo replied with a bitter smile. "Who would really want to die? But... the {earthquake} was inevitable; I was destined to die. And yet, instead of publishing that chapter, I insisted on reviewing it one more time..."
Qi Xia sighed quietly, a trace of helplessness in his expression.
What Han Yimo spoke of was not a {reason for escape}; it sounded far more like a {final wish}.
At that moment, a tan and slender girl, accompanied by a middle-aged man in a suit, approached, both holding a bottle of beer in hand.
Qi Xia recognized the pair—they had been present at Auntie Tong's course.
"Everyone, let's get acquainted," the tan and slender girl said with a smile. "Are you all from the same room?"
"Yes," Lin Qin responded, turning to look at them. "What about you?"
"Yep, I'm Li Xiangling (李香玲)." The girl extended her hand toward Lin Qin.
Lin Qin took her hand in return, and as their palms met, she felt the rough texture of calluses on the girl's hand.
"My name is Zhong Zhen (钟震)," the man in the suit said with a nod.
Qi Xia eyed the two with a hint of doubt before asking, "Are all your other teammates dead?"
"No," Li Xiangling replied, shaking her head. "Five of us survived, but the remaining three didn’t want to join {Passage to Heaven}, so only he and I came."
Qiao Jiajin raised his bottle and clinked it with Zhong Zhen’s. "I’m Qiao Jiajin. Just call me A’Jin."
"Got it, xiongdi."
The two began conversing with Lin Qin, Qiao Jiajin, and Han Yimo.
It turned out that their teammates were three criminals. The trio had been searching for daggers for self-defense ever since arriving in the city. Zhong Zhen and Li Xiangling had sensed that they didn’t share the same values and intended to go their separate ways. However, they encountered Zhang Shan, who was promoting their organization.
After a brief conversation, the two decided to join {Passage to Heaven} to see what it had to offer.
"Three criminals?" Qi Xia furrowed his brow.
"Yes," Li Xiangling replied, her voice laced with unease. "Two of them were just released after serving their sentences, while the last one came directly from prison... They emitted a terrifying aura."
Qi Xia had no doubt who Li Xiangling was referring to. However, a new thought took root in his mind. If it was true that everyone who arrived here was meant to {atone for their sins}, then were A’Mu, the bald man, and that blondie truly remorseful for their past actions?
Just as Auntie Tong had mentioned, everyone who arrived here carried the weight of their transgressions. Yet, Qi Xia had witnessed firsthand that many showed no signs of remorse or repentance.
Take A’Mu and the other two, for example. For them, this place wasn’t a realm for {atonement}—it was a sanctuary where they could revel in complete liberation.
At that moment, Yun Yao approached and noticed Qi Xia munching on peanuts. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face. "Qi Xia, why aren’t you drinking?" she asked.
"Because I prefer to stay sober," Qi Xia replied plainly, pushing the conversation back toward her. "You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves."
"Why must you push yourself so hard?" Yun Yao sighed, settling beside Qi Xia as she twisted open a bottle of beer and slid it toward him. "We’re already in a place where death is inevitable. What’s left to be cautious about?"
Qi Xia paused, considering her words. They did make sense—this was hardly the place for vigilance. But old habits die hard, and caution had become second nature to him over the years.
"It’s fine," he replied evenly. "I’ll just stick with the peanuts." Without missing a beat, he returned to peeling them with meticulous care.
Yun Yao watched him, her expression tinged with curiosity. Qi Xia was, in her eyes, a peculiar man. The pile of peanut shells before him had grown into a veritable mountain. Just how much did this guy love peanuts?
"Hmph, forget it." Yun Yao huffed, curling her lips as her attention shifted to Lin Qin. "Xiao jiejie, so what do you do?"
"I'm a counseling psychologist." Lin Qin faintly smiled and replied.
"Wow..." Yun Yao's face lit up, and she eagerly clinked her bottle with Lin Qin's. "Our group had a professional counseling psychologist too!"
"Group?" Lin Qin's brows raised slightly in curiosity. "So, you are...?"
"We were part of a girl idol group called {Mystic and Whimsical (奇思妙)}." Yun Yao’s smile widened, her voice brimming with pride. "We debuted in 2027. Xiao jiejie, have you heard of us? By the way, which year are you from?"
Hearing this, Lin Qin's expression turned slightly awkward. "No, I haven't heard of your group... I came from a time much later than yours," she admitted.
Qi Xia shook his head in quiet exasperation, a flicker of second-hand embarrassment surfacing for Yun Yao. Lin Qin was from 2068—by the time she might have been chasing idols, Yun Yao's group had likely long since retired.
Yet, Yun Yao didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. With boundless enthusiasm, she pulled Lin Qin into a lively conversation, leaping from daily musings to philosophical debates. Fortunately, Lin Qin’s broad education allowed her to respond gracefully, even contributing her own insights to the conversation, regardless of how scattered the topics became.
After a while, a member of {Passage to Heaven} handed over several batteries to Yun Yao. She accepted them with delight, walking briskly to an old-fashioned radio. Carefully installing the batteries, she pressed the play button, and a faint crackle heralded its activation. Turning around with a bright smile, she addressed everyone present.
"Ladies and gentlemen! For today's {welcome party}, we are joined by several new teammates whom I’ve never met before. I must say, I like them very much. I'm in such a wonderful mood that I’ve decided to perform a song for all of you!"
Her announcement was met with enthusiastic applause, the air charged with eager anticipation.
Qiao Jiajin, Han Yimo, Zhong Zhen, Li Xiangling, and Doctor Zhao eagerly came forward, each finding a vantage point to watch her performance. Settling into their seats, they waited expectantly for the show to begin.
As the nostalgic melody crackled to life from the old radio, Yun Yao boldly began to sing along. Her voice carried strength and emotion, complemented by her striking appearance and commanding stage presence. In that moment, she transcended the image of an idol group member, embodying instead the spirit of a seasoned performer.
The song, a familiar tune to many, resonated through the gathering. One by one, the attendees joined in, their voices rising together in a spontaneous chorus. What began as Yun Yao's solo performance soon transformed into a collective celebration of song and camaraderie.
Amidst them all, Qiao Jiajin stood out, singing with the most fervor.
{By your side, the road may stretch far, but I never grow weary;}
{Walking with you, stride after stride, journey after journey,}
{Scaling one peak, only to see another rise ahead,}
{Pushing our aspirations further, keeping dreams forever within reach.}
It was {Strolling Down the Path of Life}, a classic by Teresa Teng released in 1984. Somehow, its lyrics felt deeply resonant in this strange place, as if the song itself had been meant for such a gathering.
As Qi Xia watched the others singing together with abandon, their voices mingling in shared sentiment, he found himself momentarily swept away, almost forgetting where they were.
Yet, amidst the chorus of voices, only he and Lin Qin remained silent. The two sat in a quiet corner, their detachment forming an invisible boundary between them and the lively crowd. It was as if they inhabited a separate world entirely.
"Qi Xia," Lin Qin suddenly called. "I have something to tell you."
Qi Xia paused his movements, his fingers halting their peeling of peanuts, and then casually inquired, "What is it?"
"I am an {Adherent of Judgment’s Domain} straying within {End Point}, with the purpose of purging the entire {Passage to Heaven}." Lin Qin smiled happily, her eyes drifting toward the distant crowd as she took a sip of beer.
{May the laughter always be there to cover the painful side of things.}
{Through sorrow or cheer, come what may,}
{Find new wonders every day.}
Meanwhile, the song continued to resonate through the air, the jubilant chorus of voices rising and falling like waves.
